Frankenstein"I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life and stir with an uneasy, half-vital motion." A summer evening's ghost stories, lonely insomnia in a moonlit Alpine's room, and a runaway imagination--fired by philosophical discussions with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley about science, galvanism, and the origins of life--conspired to produce for Marry Shelley this haunting night specter. By morning, it had become the germ of her Romantic masterpiece, "Frankenstein." Written in 1816 when she was only nineteen, Mary Shelley's novel of "The Modern Prometheus" chillingly dramatized the dangerous potential of life begotten upon a laboratory table. A frightening creation myth for our own time, "Frankenstein" remains one of the greatest horror stories ever written and is an undisputed classic of its kind. |
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Page 28
... seemed to shed radiance from her looks , and whose form and motions were lighter than the chamois of the hills . The apparition was soon explained . With his permission my mother prevailed on her rustic guardians to yield their charge ...
... seemed to shed radiance from her looks , and whose form and motions were lighter than the chamois of the hills . The apparition was soon explained . With his permission my mother prevailed on her rustic guardians to yield their charge ...
Page 76
... seemed to dim her eye when she saw us ; but she quickly recovered herself , and a look of sorrowful affection seemed to attest her utter guiltlessness . The trial began ; and , after the advocate against her had stated the charge ...
... seemed to dim her eye when she saw us ; but she quickly recovered herself , and a look of sorrowful affection seemed to attest her utter guiltlessness . The trial began ; and , after the advocate against her had stated the charge ...
Page 217
... seemed to forget my presence , and every feature and gesture seemed instigated by the wildest rage of some uncontrollable passion . " That is also my victim ! " he exclaimed : " in his murder my crimes are consummated ; the miserable ...
... seemed to forget my presence , and every feature and gesture seemed instigated by the wildest rage of some uncontrollable passion . " That is also my victim ! " he exclaimed : " in his murder my crimes are consummated ; the miserable ...
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Common terms and phrases
affection Agatha agony Albertus Magnus anguish appeared arrived beautiful became beheld beloved bestow Clerval companion consolation cottage countenance cousin creature crime dæmon dared dark dear death delight desire despair destroyed discovered dream earth Elizabeth endeavoured endured entered expressed eyes father fear feelings Felix felt Frankenstein Geneva gentle grief hands happiness heard heart heavens hope horror human idea imagination Ingolstadt innocent John Polidori journey Justine kind Krempe labours lake lived looked Lord Byron manner marriage Mary Shelley Mary Wollstonecraft mind miserable misfortune monster Mont Blanc morning mountains murderer natural philosophy nature never night Pandæmonium Paracelsus Paradise Lost passed passion peace perceived Percy Shelley pleasure poor possessed reflect remained resolved revenge Safie scene sensations smiles sometimes soon sorrow soul spirit strange suffered Switzerland tale tears thought university of Ingolstadt Victor voice wind wish wonder wood words wretched